Aircraft door (1) including a safety latch (7) having a first locking element (8) and a complementary second locking element (9) which is movable; a link (11) having at least one electroactive polymer portion (13) and adapted to take up: a lock position in which the electroactive polymer portion (13) is supplied with power and the movable second locking element (9) is engaged with the first locking element (8); and an unlock position in which the electroactive polymer portion (13) is not supplied with power and the movable second locking element (9) is kept away from the first locking element (8); a control unit (16) having a power supply (26) for the electroactive polymer portion (13).

Aircraft door (1) including a safety latch (7) having a first locking element (8) and a complementary second locking element (9) which is movable; a link (11) having at least one electroactive polymer portion (13) and adapted to take up: a lock position in which the electroactive polymer portion (13) is supplied with power and the movable second locking element (9) is engaged with the first locking element (8); and an unlock position in which the electroactive polymer portion (13) is not supplied with power and the movable second locking element (9) is kept away from the first locking element (8); a control unit (16) having a power supply (26) for the electroactive polymer portion (13).

A transmission mechanism for a vehicle door handle is provided, the handle including a handle lever, movable between a flushing position and a ready position, the mechanism attachable to the lever and to an electric motor, and including a lever shaft connectable to the lever, a rotation of which causes motion between the positions; a reduction mechanism to adapt an output torque of the motor into a rotational motion of the shaft, including first and second reduction stages each having a worm drive, the first including a first worm and a first worm gear, and the second having a second worm and another worm gear rotationally coupled to the shaft; and a brake mechanism frictionally engaging a rotating element of one of the stages when the shaft reaches a rotational braking position between the positions to stop the shaft in a position where the lever is in the ready position.

The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch, and more particularly, to a vehicle door latch having a safety device, which is capable of mechanically or electrically preventing an electrical malfunction of the vehicle door latch, installed at the interior or exterior thereof so that safety of the vehicle door latch is improved.

A motorized moveable strike assembly is provided for a vehicle door. The assembly includes a strike on the door post which is moveable by an electric motor between extended and retracted positions. A latch on the door releasably engages the strike. A switch in the latch sends a signal to the controller to actuate the motor after the latch is engaged so as to retract the strike from the extended position to fully close the door. When the latch is disengaged from the strike, the latch switch sends a signal to controller to actuate the motor so as to extend the strike from the retracted position to the extended position as to prepare for the next door closing.

A motorized moveable strike assembly is provided for a vehicle door. The assembly includes a strike on the door post which is moveable by an electric motor between extended and retracted positions. A latch on the door releasably engages the strike. A switch in the latch sends a signal to the controller to actuate the motor after the latch is engaged so as to retract the strike from the extended position to fully close the door. When the latch is disengaged from the strike, the latch switch sends a signal to controller to actuate the motor so as to extend the strike from the retracted position to the extended position as to prepare for the next door closing.

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative devices, systems, and methods. In an illustrative embodiment, a device includes a latch motor configured to generate a power value, a position sensor configured to generate a striker pin position signal, a processor configured to communicate with the latch motor and the position sensor, and a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine the striker pin position in response to the generated striker pin position signal, detect an obstruction in response to the striker pin position and the power value, and perform an anti-pinch function in response to the detected obstruction.

A method of determining the status of a lock. The method includes reading data from a proximity switch and calculating an inductance value from a solenoid, the proximity switch and solenoid located in or around a lock, and processing the data from the proximity switch and the inductance value. The method further includes comparing the processed data with an expected value to confirm the lock status.

A method of determining the status of a lock. The method includes reading data from a proximity switch and calculating an inductance value from a solenoid, the proximity switch and solenoid located in or around a lock, and processing the data from the proximity switch and the inductance value. The method further includes comparing the processed data with an expected value to confirm the lock status.

A system includes a processor configured to determine the location of a wirelessly-identified device within a vehicle. The processor is also configured to determine a locking schema associated with the device for locking child-lockable vehicle systems and apply the locking schema to corresponding systems in a defined proximity to the determined device location.